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Casino Chinez

Avenida Serpa Pinto ( nowadays Avenida 8)
Espinho, Portugal
Type: Land Based
Status: Closed
Open: 1888(?), Close: 1927

Casino Chinez was founded prior to 1899, with concert hall, gambling room and café. This café-casino, with all its Chinese-style decoration was for years a place of reference in Espinho and was one of the most luxurious and important casinos, being the meeting point of the most distinguished people of Espinho, and famous for is attractions .Despite the gambling being banned, it never stopped there. In Farpas ( literary chronicles 1887- 1890, by Ramalho Ortigão) one can read about Espinho casinos: “ The ones where I was, and they call the “ Celestial Empire” ( figurative term for China) I seemed to be a worthy and respectable establishment… the roulette wheel is a rich piece. Serves him a cupola and balance the impulsive rotation of the wheel a well crafted piece of silver representing a mandarin dancing, open arms and fingers pointed toward the ceiling ( figure reproduced in some chips). The gambling ended with the publication of gambling rules in 1927, being allowed only one casino in Espinho